Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting with verification and name change service

• US 20060256936A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for verifying call waiting information in a communication system is particularly well suited for correcting mispronunciation of caller identification information provided for a call waiting call. A current pronunciation of the call waiting information is provided to the calling party who is prompted to change the current pronunciation. The system receives a new pronunciation of the call waiting information and stores information about the new pronunciation for subsequent retrieval.

Claims

1. A method for correcting audible caller identification information in a telecommunication system, the method comprising:

playing to a caller a current pronunciation of the audible caller identification information for the caller;

in response to a received pronunciation change indication, prompting the caller for a new spoken pronunciation;

recording the new spoken pronunciation; and

if verified by the caller, storing information defining the new spoken pronunciation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if a new spoken pronunciation was provided, updating the current pronunciation with the information defining the new spoken pronunciation.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

conveying the updated current pronunciation to all suitable locations in the telecommunication system for use by the system for providing audible caller identification information for subsequent calls.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a call placed by the caller to a verification number; and

providing a series of menu options for correcting the audible caller identification information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the call placed by the caller to the verification number comprises:

receiving a call placed to a toll free number dialed specifically for the purpose of verifying the audible caller identification information

6. The method of claim 4 wherein providing a series of menu options comprises:

presenting audible menu options over a telephone line to the caller.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein providing a series of menu options comprises:

presenting multimedia menu options over the Internet to the caller.